What is the rental vacancy rate in Mason City, IA?

Name: Vacancy rate in Mason City, IA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

The rental vacancy rate in Mason City, IA is 4.3% (±2.6 points) (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

The homeowner vacancy rate is 0.3% (±0.4 points).

1,542 (±334) homes, 10.8% of all housing units, were vacant, a count that includes seasonal homes and homes being sold or rented.

In Mason City, the rental vacancy rate went from 6.1% in 2015–2019 to 4.3% in 2020–2024 (−1.8 percentage points), not a measurable change.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Rental vacancy rate: 4.3% (±2.6 points)
Homeowner vacancy rate: 0.3% (±0.4 points)
Vacant homes: 1,542 (±334)

Vacancy in Mason City against Cerro Gordo County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa	United States
Rental vacancy rate	4.3% (±2.6 points)	3.3% (±2.0 points)	5.7% (±0.3 points)	5.5%
Homeowner vacancy rate	0.3% (±0.4 points)	0.4% (±0.4 points)	0.8% (±0.1 points)	0.9%
Vacant housing units	1,542 (±334)	3,248 (±373)	121,992 (±3,789)	14,547,859

The rental vacancy rate is the share of rental homes that are vacant and for rent; it leaves out homes already rented but not yet moved into, and seasonal homes.

In Mason City, the rental vacancy rate is not measurably different from Cerro Gordo County (3.3%).

It is not measurably different from Iowa (5.7%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (5.5%).

Rental vacancy rate in places near Mason City

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Mason City
Place	Distance	Rental vacancy rate	Compared with this place
Mason City	—	4.3% (±2.6 points)	—
Rock Falls	7.0 mi	0.0% (±100.0 points)	Not measurably different
Plymouth	7.8 mi	0.0% (±44.0 points)	Not measurably different
Clear Lake	8.8 mi	0.0% (±2.9 points)	Lower
Nora Springs	9.7 mi	8.8% (±12.7 points)	Not measurably different
Manly	9.7 mi	0.0% (±12.1 points)	Not measurably different
Rockwell	12 mi	0.0% (±21.5 points)	Not measurably different
Hanlontown	13 mi	0.0% (±54.2 points)	Not measurably different
Swaledale	13 mi	0.0% (±69.5 points)	Not measurably different

Nearby places with a measurably lower figure: Clear Lake, IA (0.0%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Rental vacancy rate across Cerro Gordo County, place by place

Rank	Place	Rental vacancy rate
1	Thornton	7.5% (±11.2 points)
2	Mason City	4.3% (±2.6 points)
3 (tie)	Clear Lake	0.0% (±2.9 points)
3 (tie)	Meservey	0.0% (±50.1 points)
3 (tie)	Plymouth	0.0% (±44.0 points)
3 (tie)	Rock Falls	0.0% (±100.0 points)
3 (tie)	Rockwell	0.0% (±21.5 points)
3 (tie)	Swaledale	0.0% (±69.5 points)

Showing 8 of 9 places in Cerro Gordo County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates), compared with 2015–2019.

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Mason City

Is it hard to find a rental in Mason City?

The rental vacancy rate in Mason City, IA is 4.3% (±2.6 points); a low rate means few rental homes stand empty and for rent at any time, which usually means more competition for each one.

Is the rental market in Mason City tighter than it was?

In Mason City, the rental vacancy rate went from 6.1% in 2015–2019 to 4.3% in 2020–2024 (−1.8 percentage points), not a measurable change.

How many homes are vacant in Mason City?

An estimated 1,542 (±334) housing units, 10.8% of the total, including seasonal homes and homes waiting to be sold or rented.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) for Mason City city, Iowa (place:50160, in state:19).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The 2015–2019 figures are DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M from the 2019 release.

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0005E, DP04_0005M, DP04_0004E, DP04_0004M, DP04_0003E, DP04_0003M, DP04_0003PE, DP04_0003PM

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.